Research Information Management - Impact and Opportunities for Staff Development James Toon, Research Information Systems Manager, University of

Setting the scene… Developments in research assessment in the UK over last 5 years Growth in compliance requirement (HESA, RCUK, EPSRC, HEFCE) Increased commercial pressure Developing digital footprints Management, structure, standards, organisation, targets. Sounds like we need a CRIS! By LaurMG. (Cropped from "File:Frustrated man at a desk.jpg".) [CC BY-SA 3.0 ( via Wikimedia Commons 2

Edinburgh Setup Implemented PURE in 2011 University, Colleges, Schools, Centres, Institutes, Research Groups, Research pools 146 Organisational units in PURE Other stakeholder groups (open access, research data, impact and KE, finance, Governance, web services) Many completely different approaches By Kim Traynor (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 ( via Wikimedia Commons 3

Reality check CRIS has made a HUGE difference Has complete senior support. BUT - No magic bullet Little direct academic engagement No one has any time NOT what we expected? 4 Regan, Tim. “Emergency Stop Button”. Retrieved 6 May 2015, [online image]

Concerns observed and heard Passing the buck – hundreds of proxy users resulting in 101 different ways of doing the same thing ‘I have no idea of what you just said….’ ‘who is going to pay for this. We’ve no money and no staff’ ‘But this isn’t my job!’ Issues of professional jurisdiction - not talking to each other effectively – leading to confusing messages Resulting in some degree of staff ‘fending for themselves’ 5

The CRIS ‘hype cycle’ 6

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Heading to big school! Period of hand holding is over. Some schools positive (restructuring/interest) Colleges receptive to funding requests and new placements Some less so (panic, refusals, dumping more and more on admin) Some adamant that academics will see the light Much uncertainty By ajari from Japan [CC BY 2.0 ( via Wikimedia Commons 8

The CRIS ‘hype cycle’ – the way ahead Installation 9 Benefits Realisation

The CRIS ‘hype cycle’ – possible scenario? CAUTION: This slope is slippery Installation Slow march to mediocrity 10

The CRIS ‘hype cycle’ – worse case? CAUTION: This slope is slippery Installation Abandonment? 11

Moving on up the (J)curve! Now is the time to invest heavily in our people. Do nothing is not considered an option. Plan to pursue 4 work packages; 1.Define Research Information Management as a professional opportunity. 2.What should be our RIM people strategy be for this next stage 3.Who should be coordinating/responsible for delivery of this work? 4.Resourcing and sustainability of the programme 12

1. What makes a research information management professional? Ability to connect systems with core University business Understand relationships between internal and external systems Keep up to date with new developments Act as a leader in chosen field with peers and externally Add value to the customer base Encourage continuous development Generalists vs Specialists vs Advocates vs Leaders 13

2. People strategies and development Vision – view back from the top of the plateau Network and community building Goals/Objectives (how will we know we have been successful) Are there any pre-requisites (i.e. job descriptions redefined?) Sustainability of the programme (run once, repeat, CPD?) 14 By Gil Cavalcanti (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 ( or GFDL ( via Wikimedia Commons

3. Roles/Responsibilities Who owns research information management in the organisation Are all the stakeholders included, are they on board? Role of internal providers (HR teams) Role of external providers (ARMA) Who is responsible for the sustainability of the programme Who is responsible for its delivery 15 By DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS Office of Information and Technology (Project Management Guide) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

4. Resourcing Developing a resourcing plan for the work Internal vs external opportunities Working in a coordinated way with Schools and Colleges 16

How can help? Some sort of formal recognition? Review of institutional approaches and sharing experiences. Work with best practice group (or set up new one?) Sharing of training materials (or developing something generic for wider reuse) Develop variation on a theme of ARMA framework (maybe in conjunction with ARMA) Develop self accreditation framework – People-CMM for research information management? 17

Thank you for listening…any questions? 18 And please get in touch if you are happy to share how your institutions are approaching this too!